NEA earns ISO 9001 certification

MANILA, Philippines — State-run National Electrification Administration (NEA) has reaffirmed its compliance to international standards of service after earning the ISO 9001:2015 Certification for Quality Management System

The ISO 9001:2015 certificate was issued by certification body TÜV Rheinland Philippines Inc. after successfully passing the recertification audit. It has a validity of three years from Feb. 10, 2021 to Feb. 9, 2024, subject to annual surveillance audit.

“This ISO 9001:2015 certification is an affirmation of the electrification agency’s continued commitment and adherence to international standards in delivering quality services to the customers and other stakeholders,” NEA administrator Edgardo Masongsong said.

The audit was conducted by TÜV Rheinland on Dec. 11, 2020. The scope of certification is the provision of “financial, institutional, technical, and legal assistance to the electric cooperatives which in turn undertake power distribution on an area coverage basis.”

In its recertification audit report, TÜV Rheinland found zero nonconformity in the processes surveyed. The audit also showed that “the organization has established and maintained an effective system to ensure compliance with its policy and objectives.”

“The audit team confirms, in line with the audit targets, that the organization’s management system complies with, adequately maintains and implements the requirements of the standard(s),” the certification body said.

As a result, TÜV Rheinland recommended the award of a new certificate to the NEA.

The certification body noted a number of positive findings in management initiatives, which include the implementation of the ‘Pantawid Liwanag’ program in partnership with the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc. (PHILRECA) and the ECs; the remittance of P1.26 billion unutilized subsidies and P85.71 million in dividends to the national government for COVID-19 response; issuance of relevant memoranda to the ECs, such as extending payment of consumers’ electricity bills and EC loan payments/amortizations.

The TÜV Rheinland also cited the awards and recognitions received by the NEA, such as ranking 2nd in the government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) category at the 2020 Freedom of Information (FOI) Awards and 2020 Government Energy Management Program Award by the Department of Energy. It also commended the conduct of 21 online training programs.

It also noted the granting of clearance to ECs to implement capital expenditure projects; providing loans and government subsidies to electric co-ops; sustaining NEA’s operations and maintaining a positive margin and exceeding the target collection efficiency of 96.78 percent.

TÜV Rheinland, in its audit report, also made some recommendations and opportunities that could contribute to the continuous improvement of the agency’s quality management system.

NEA was upgraded to ISO 9001:2015 certification beginning December 2016.